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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Quality of life after pediatric cancer: comparison of long-term childhood cancer survivors’ quality of life with a representative general population sample and associations with physical health and risk indicators

Authors: Mareike Ernst, Andreas Hinz, Elmar Brähler, Hiltrud Merzenich, Jörg Faber, Philipp S. Wild, Manfred E. Beutel

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) reported by childhood cancer survivors (CCS) drawn from a cohort of the German Childhood Cancer Registry with a representative general population sample and, within CCS, to test associations between QoL and health behavior, health risk factors, and physical illness.

Methods

CCS (N = 633, age at diagnosis M = 6.34 (SD = 4.38), age at medical assessment M = 34.92 (SD = 5.70)) and a general population sample (age-aligned; N = 975) filled out the EORTC QLQ-C30. Comparisons were performed using General linear models (GLMs) (fixed effects: sex/gender, group (CCS vs. general population); covariates: age, education level). CCS underwent an extensive medical assessment (mean time from diagnosis to assessment was 28.07 (SD = 3.21) years) including an objective diagnosis of health risk factors and physical illnesses (e.g., diabetes and cardiovascular disease). Within CCS, we tested associations between QoL and sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior, health risk factors, and physical illness.

Results

CCS, especially female CCS, reported both worse functional QoL and higher symptom burden than the general population. Among CCS, better total QoL was related to younger age, higher level of education, being married, and engaging in active sports. Both health risk factors (dyslipidemia and physical inactivity) and manifest physical illnesses (cardiovascular disease) were associated with lower total QoL.

Conclusions

In all domains, long-term CCS reported worse QoL than the comparison sample. The negative associations with risk factors and physical illnesses indicate an urgent need for long-term surveillance and health promotion.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Quality of life after pediatric cancer: comparison of long-term childhood cancer survivors’ quality of life with a representative general population sample and associations with physical health and risk indicators
Authors
Mareike Ernst
Andreas Hinz
Elmar Brähler
Hiltrud Merzenich
Jörg Faber
Philipp S. Wild
Manfred E. Beutel
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-023-02153-7

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